As suspected - Cats don't give a shit

[packman]

After years when scientists largely ignored social intelligence in cats, labs studying feline social cognition have popped up around the globe, and a small but growing number of studies is showing that cats match dogs in many tests of social smarts. The work could transform the widespread image of cats as aloof or untamed. It also may eventually offer insight into how domestication transformed wild animals into our best friends, and even hint at how the human mind itself changed over the course of evolution.

That is, if the cats themselves deign to participate.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/cats-rival-dogs-many-tests-social-smarts-anyone-brave-enough-study-them

[Tadpole Raisin]

1. "That all changed in 1998 when 2 independent labs showed that dogs

understand what we mean when we point at an object.”

Well that’s what happens when Labradors infiltrate a study and run the tests! They’re labs, cheeky buggers!

I hope they keep testing cats.

[3catwoman3]

2. How fascinating!

Thanks so much for posting this.

[Sanity Claws]

3. My cats have trained me well

They know how to communicate even if they don't speak our language. That involves intelligence for sure.

[Ocelot II]

4. The cited article suggests the exact opposite.

Cats care about a lot of things relating to their humans.

[gladium et scutum]

6. cats care about a lot of things relating to their staffs. n/t

[Corgigal]

5. Just purchased

3 different cat treats bags at the grocery store. I think they have taught me well.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. For what it's worth, autistic children, even mildly autistic ones,

don't understand pointing. I have a son on the spectrum, so I know about this.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Bout time cat cognition

Got some attention.

Good on the cat labs,
The companions and thier sweet wonderful kitties.

[wnylib]

9. My cat responds better to pointing

when I use my foot than when I use my hand, although she will respond to my hand pointing - if she feels like it.

[airplaneman]

10. I had a cat that liked to play fetch and return.

I would throw a tennis ball and the cat would run and get it and bring it back to me.
I could do this over and over again. The same cat loved to egg the dog on to chase her around the yard.
-Airplane